Checklist

The self-custody checklist

Everything that matters, in the order that matters — do-first, do-next, and review-yearly. Print it, work through it, come back to it.

Each item links to the full how-to. This is the map; the guides are the detail.

Do first

Getting off the exchange

The moves that get your Bitcoin into your own hands, safely.

Move a test amount off the exchange first Send a small amount to your own wallet, confirm it arrives, then move the rest. Never move everything in one blind step. Full how-to →
Get a real hardware wallet A Bitcoin-only device with its own screen and offline signing. Buy direct from the maker and check the tamper seal. Full how-to →
Generate a fresh seed on the device yourself Never use pre-set words. Let the device create the seed in front of you. Full how-to →
Back up the seed on metal, in two places Write it by hand, move it to steel, store two copies in separate locations. No photos, no cloud, ever. Full how-to →
Prove recovery works before funding Wipe the device and restore from your backup with a tiny amount. A backup you haven’t tested is a hope. Full how-to →

Do next

Harden and protect

Once your coins are in cold storage, close the everyday gaps.

Learn the daily-safety habits Verify addresses on the device screen, treat unexpected messages as scams, and keep your Bitcoin off your public identity. Full how-to →
Keep a low physical profile Don’t advertise that you hold Bitcoin. Keep amounts vague, skip the branded gear, and reduce where your name is tied to it. Full how-to →
Address your privacy Use a fresh address every time, be careful about combining coins, and reduce KYC exposure. Full how-to →
Right-size your setup Check where you belong on the ladder. Most people are safest at the lower rungs — climb only for a real reason. Full how-to →
Write a recovery kit and inheritance plan A plain-language document your future self and your heirs can follow — without ever writing the seed words in it. Full how-to →

Every year

Keep it alive

A setup is a practice, not a one-time event. Once a year, in one sitting:

Re-test a backup Do a quick signed-message check, or a full wipe-and-restore if something has changed. Full how-to →
Update device firmware Apply the maker’s security updates from their official app only.
Review your recovery kit and heirs Are the instructions still accurate? Do the right people still know where to look? Full how-to →
Confirm your backup locations Has anything moved, flooded, or changed hands? Fix it while you remember.
Reconsider your rung If your holdings have grown a lot, re-check whether it’s time to move up the ladder. Full how-to →

The whole thing in one breath

Get it off the exchange onto a device you control · back the seed up on metal in two places · test the backup before you trust it · don’t talk about your Bitcoin · and leave a plan your family can follow. Do those five and you’re ahead of almost everyone.

✓ Last verified: July 15, 2026